Mbeki optimistic about Zimbabwe talks

  1. Posted on Thursday 31 July 2008 - 08:41
    Mugadza
    Munyaradzi Mugadza, AfricaNews Reporter in Harare, Zimbabwe
    SADC appointed mediator and South African President Thabo Mbeki, arrived in Zimbabwe late on Wednesday to meet his Zimbabwean counterpart, Robert Mugabe and the leader of the smaller faction of the MDC, Arthur Mutambara as the negotiating talks are adjourned after leadership role differences.
    Mbeki.jpg
    President Mbeki confirmed that although the talks had been adjourned, they were progressing well and expected them to resume at the end of the week. He said the negotiators had gone back to Harare to consult their leaders on leadership roles.

    Reports from Tswane, South Africa revealed that the talks had hit a snag after the Zanu PF negotiating team said they could only offer Tsvangirai a position of third vice President which the MDC formation refused.

    The opposition MDC formation however said they are unwilling to accept a deal that included only the post of vice president for its leader, Morgan Tsvangirai.

    United Nations envoy to Zimbabwe, Haile Menkerios said the inter-party talks between Zanu PF and the MDC party were difficult. Meanwhile, the UN Security Council has warned that if they do not see progress in the inter-party negotiations, the Council will reconvene and discuss the Zimbabwean crisis again.

    British Deputy U.N. Ambassador Karen Pierce said the Security Council had
    received a "sober" report on the situation in Zimbabwe, and an update on the ongoing power sharing talks between the country’s political rivalries, which broke off on Monday.

    "We wish those efforts well but it's clear that if we don't make progress
    soon or don't see progress soon in Zimbabwe, that the council will have to
    come back to this issue," said Pierce after the briefing by U.N. special envoy to Zimbabwe, Haile Menkerios.

    The UN Security Council came short of imposing sanctions on Zimbabwe when the issue was brought before it early July. China and Russia, vetoed the vote to impose sanctions after the security council managed to get nine of its 15 members to vote for sanctions.

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